<p class="MsoNormal">The <b>Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping)</b>

convened a high-level strategic summit with an industrial delegation from the <b>Associated

Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)</b>. The public-private

alignment targeted systemic solutions for the operational and commercial

challenges currently pressuring Indian exporters and importers, focusing

heavily on mitigating ocean freight volatility and terminal operational

overheads.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Addressing Commercial Bottlenecks &amp; Surcharges<o:p></o:p></b></p><ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc">

<li class="MsoNormal"><b>The

Leadership</b>: The strategic talks were anchored by Shri Shyam

Jagannathan, IAS (Director General of Shipping), alongside Ravi Gupta,

Chair of the ASSOCHAM National Council on Exports and Trade and Executive

Director at Shree Renuka Sugars. <o:p></o:p></li>

<li class="MsoNormal"><b>Core

Commercial Focus</b>: Industrial delegates presented data regarding

shifting global ocean freight trends, pushing for regulatory visibility

and transparency regarding additional line fees. Specifically, discussions

zeroed in on standardizing structural <b>fuel surcharges</b> and <b>terminal

handling charges (THC)</b> levied by global container shipping lines

across Indian gateway ports. <o:p></o:p></li>

<li class="MsoNormal"><b>Cost

Stability</b>: The group evaluated collaborative intervention models to

insulate localized micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from

predatory pricing spikes and inconsistent container allocation protocols

amid ongoing international supply chain disruptions.<o:p></o:p></li>

</ul><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Trade Facilitation &amp; Structural Reforms<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">

</p><ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc">

<li class="MsoNormal"><b>Operational

Modernization</b>: Beyond immediate pricing concerns, the summit outlined

joint administrative avenues between DG Shipping and ASSOCHAM to drive

trade facilitation, eliminate redundant maritime documentation, and

leverage digital terminal platforms to decrease turnaround times.<o:p></o:p></li>

<li class="MsoNormal"><b>Public-Private

Frameworks</b>: Moving forward, both entities pledged to establish

continuous, fast-track communication loops. The goal is to cultivate a

highly resilient, globally competitive, and predictable maritime logistics

ecosystem to support India’s long-term export scaling ambitions. <o:p></o:p></li>

<li class="MsoNormal"><b>Key

Delegated Entities</b>: The private sector panel included corporate

commanders from major industrial conglomerates, notably Milind Hardikar

(Chair, ASSOCHAM Maharashtra State Council &amp; Director of Group

Strategic Initiatives, Welspun World) and Rahul Singh (General Manager,

Welspun Group).&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></li>

</ul><ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc">

</ul>